Apparatus for the manufacture of chemical compounds.



c. 1. B ROCKBANK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1. 1914.

1,157,293. Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A. M W W UNITED STATES ENT oEEICE.

' CLARENCE J. BEQCKBANK, E NIAGARA EALLs, ONTARIO, CANADA, AssIG oR TO THE CAEEOEUNDUM COMPANY, o NIAoAEA EALLs, NEw Yo K, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed January-7, 1914. Serial No. 810,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE J BRoCK- BANK, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, have invented a newan'd useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Chemical Compounds, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which the figure is a vertical 7 usually consists ofan iron'chamber about section showing a typical embodiment of my invention.

My invention relates to 'the manufacture of chemical compounds, such as sulfuric acid sulfid oresare roasted with an excess of air and the gaseous mixture, after drying, passes througha heating chamber where it is raised to from 380 to 400 C. The hot gases are then led to the converter which six feet in diameter by eight feet high, containing the catalyst mixture, which usually consists of granular MgSO carrying 0.2% of platinum. This mixture is spread on trays and by suitable battles the gases are caused to traverse each layer, where the combination of the sulfur dioxid and oxygen is effected by the platinum.

. After the mixture of sulfur dioxid and air is formed therefore there are three distinct steps in the usual operation, as follows: (a) The drying of the gaseous mixture. temperature of nearly 400 C, and (0) The treatment of the heated gases with the catalyst. j v

In carrying. out my invention I use a porous diaphragm instead" of the usual mixture carried in trays, this porous diaphragm having the catalyzer deposited on and pref erably in the interstices thereof.- The gas- (5) *Theheating of the sameto a eons mixture is forced through this diaphragm, which is preferably formed of porous carborundum with platinum deposited in its interstices; and I preferably heat this diaphragm by passing electric current through it and using it as a heating element.

In the preferred form of my invention, I

use a diaphragm formed of compacted carborundum of a substantially uniformly porous structure composed of very fine carborundum crystals, such, for example, as granted in United States Patent No. 992,698 to Frank J. Tone on May 16, 1911.

Such carborundum diaphragm preferably has no foreign binding material and is one of the .few materials which is not acted upon by the products produced in this method of manufacturing sulfuric acid. I impregnate this plate with platinum preferably-by soaking in a solution of platinum chlorid and heating it to redness. This decomposes the chlorid and deposits metallic platinum in the interstices of the plate or diaphragm; A carborundum plate made up in this form is a conductor of electricity having certain. resistance and when subjected to the passage of electric current becomes heated and may be used as a gas heating element.

In the accompanying drawing showing a typical form of my invention, 1 is the porous carborundum diaphragm containing the catalytic agent, 2 .is a pipe composed of stoneware or similar acid proof material, and formed in sections between the ends of which the diaphragm 1 is seated.

3 is a packing as asbestos cement, or other suitable material, and forming a gas-tight :IOIIlt. i i

4 designate the electric terminals which are bolted to the plate 1.

In using this apparatus, I provide a converter or holder in which themixture of sulfur dioxid and air is sucked or forced through the carborundum plate, which is heated by an electric current to a temperature sufficient to cause a -reaction between the sulfur dioxid and oxygen to form 80,. The heating'is under complete control'and can be adjusted and regulated for varying gas mixtures and'conditions. As the gases pass through the fine porous material they are almost instantaneously converted-much 'The preheating of the gases is rendered unnecessary and the heating thereof by the,

catalyst diaphragm is under complete instantaneous control. The preliminary drying of the gases which is some times done to avoid corroding of the converting apparatus is unnecessary in my apparatus.

' The carborundum plate is not attacked by fuming sulfuric acid and the catalyzer will therefore have an exceptionally long life. In case of poisoning of the catalyzer by arsenic or other impurities, it may be quickly restored by immersing the diaphragm in aqua'regia and reheating it. Other catalyzers than platinum may be employed and many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the converting apparatus without departing from my invention.

I claim:

In apparatus for the manufacture of chemical compounds by a catalytic process, a converter containing a porous diaphragm carrying a catalyzer in its interstices, said converter being. composed of compacted .carborundum Without foreign binding material, and means for electrically heating said carborundum by passing current therethrough.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CLARENCE J. BROCKBANK. WVitnesses:

II. C. MARTIN,

' W. J. FAWCETT. 

